Calla lily plant named ‘Alice Springs’

ABSTRACT

‘Alice Springs’ is a new variety of calla lily plant having light yellow colored spathes that produces 5-13 inflorescences per 14-16 cm tuber. The flower stems are about 44-53 cm in height. The leaves are green without whitish spots and have a leathery texture.

Botanical classification: Zantedeschia sprengeri.

Varietal denomination: ‘Alice Springs’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar of calla lily, botanically known as Zantedeschia sprengeri and hereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Alice Springs’.

‘Alice Springs’ is a product of a planned breeding program, which had the objective of creating Zantedeschia hybrids for pot flower production in a wide range of colors with a large, classic flower shape. The breeding program began in 1989, and the new cultivar is a seedling selected from the crossing of Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling Z020314 (female parent, unpatented) with Zantedeschia sprengeri seedling Z030217 (male parent, unpatented). ‘Alice Springs’ was selected in 2009 by the inventor in 't Zand, The Netherlands as one flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross.

The first act of asexual reproduction of ‘Alice Springs’ by tissue culture was performed by the inventor in September of 2011 in 't Zand, The Netherlands. Subsequent asexual reproductions by tissue culture at the same location have demonstrated that the combination of characteristics as herein disclosed for the new cultivar are retained and reproduced true to type through successive generations of asexual reproduction.

The following observations, measurements and comparisons describe plants grown from 12 to 14 weeks in 14 cm pots in 't Zand, The Netherlands under greenhouse conditions, which approximate those generally used in horticultural practice. Color references are made to The 2001 R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London, 4^(th) Edition, except where general color terms of ordinary significance are used.

The present invention has not been evaluated under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary with variations in environment without a change in the genotype of the plant.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and determined to be basic characteristics of ‘Alice Springs’ which, in combination, distinguish this calla lily as a new and distinct cultivar:

-   -   1. Absence of leaf maculation;     -   2. Lanceolate leaf shape; and     -   3. Large inflorescences.

Table 1 provides a comparison of ‘Alice Springs’ to its parents, as well as Zantedeschia sprengeri variety ‘Sunclub’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 27,891).

TABLE 1 Trait Variety Relationship differences Description ‘Alice New variety Spathe color Upper surface is between Springs’ RHS 2A and 2B Plant height 44-53 cm Z020314 Female parent Spathe color Upper surface is between RHS 1A-1B Plant height 33-50 cm Z030217 Male parent Spathe color Between RHS 60D-61C Plant height 35-52 cm ‘Sunclub’ Known variety Spathe color Upper surface varies between RHS 12A-12B Plant height 15-45 cm

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographic drawing illustrates the new variety, with the colors being as nearly true as is possible with color illustrations of this type.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

-   Type: Deciduous. -   Size:     -   -   Height of the leaf canopy above the soil.—40-51 cm.         -   Height of top of inflorescences above the soil.—44-53 cm.         -   Diameter.—52-66 cm. -   Form: Semi-spreading. -   Number of inflorescences per tuber:     -   -   Size 14-16 cm in diameter.—5-13 inflorescences. -   Branches:     -   -   Number.—Plentiful.         -   Color.—Green Group RHS 141C.         -   Young shoot color.—Green Group RHS 143C. -   Leaves:     -   -   Size.—Width: 8.5-10 cm, with the broadest part of the leaf             blade far below the middle. Length: 22-24 cm.         -   Number per plant.—19-29.         -   Leaf blade lobes.—Present; having a length of 4.5-6.5 cm.         -   Shape.—Lanceolate.         -   Apex.—Apiculate.         -   Base.—Rounded.         -   Margin.—Entire; having a color of Green Group RHS 137B.         -   Color.—Upper surface: Green Group RHS 137B, with no             maculations present. Lower surface: Green Group RHS 137C,             with no maculations present.         -   Veins.—Configuration: Pinnate. Color: Green Group RHS 139C.         -   Surface texture.—Smooth (both surfaces).         -   Petiole.—Length: 20-25 cm. Diameter: Average of 24 mm.             Color: The base is Greyed-Purple Group RHS 183B, the upper             part is Yellow-Green Group RHS 144A. -   Roots:     -   -   Color.—White Group RHS 155D.         -   Branching description.—Fibrous root system. Several main             roots emerge from the top of the tuber and form a small             number of lateral roots. -   Spathe:     -   -   Size.—Length (measured from opening to tip): 6.5-8.5 cm.             Width: 5.5-8 cm. Height: 12-14 cm.         -   Color.—Throat spot: Absent. Upper surface: Between Yellow             Group RHS 2A and 2B. Lower surface: Yellow-Green Group RHS             N144C.         -   Vein color.—Yellow Group RHS 4A.         -   Shape.—Funnel.         -   Apex.—Acuminate.         -   Base.—Attenuate.         -   Margin.—Entire. -   Spadix:     -   -   Shape.—Cylinder.         -   Size.—Length: 25-35 mm. Diameter: 15-20 mm.         -   Color.—Yellow Group RHS 12A.         -   Position relative to spathe.—Upright.         -   Female flower.—Number: 20-40. Shape: Pyramid. Height: 2 mm.             Diameter: 4 mm.         -   Male flower.—Number: 200-250. Shape: Cone. Height: 1 mm.             Diameter: 0.2 mm. -   Peduncle:     -   -   Size.—Length: 45-58 cm. Diameter: 20-25 mm.         -   Color.—The upper and lower parts are Yellow-Green Group RHS             144A.         -   Texture.—Smooth. -   Reproductive organs:     -   -   Location of female organs.—Basal position of the spadix.         -   Location of male organs.—Upper position of the spadix.         -   Perianth.—Conspicuous.         -   Stamens.—Presence: Not visible before pollen release.             Number: Between 480 and 600. Pollen amount: Abundant;             similar to ‘Picasso’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 15,282). Color:             Between White Group RHS 155B and 155C.         -   Anther.—Shape: Round. Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between             Yellow Group RHS 8B and 8C.         -   Filament.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between White Group             RHS 155C and 155D.         -   Pistils.—Number: 15 to 30. Length beyond perianth: About 1             mm.         -   Stigma.—Shape: Round. Size: Less than 1 mm.         -   Style.—Length: Less than 1 mm. Color: Between Yellow Group             RHS 8B and 8C.         -   Ovaries.—Texture: Smooth. Length: Between 1 to 10 mm. Width:             Between 1 to 10 mm. Color: The top color is Yellow Group RHS             9A, the bottom color is Yellow-Green Group RHS 150B. -   Disease resistance: No unusual susceptibility/resistance to diseases     noticed to date. -   Pest resistance: No unusual susceptibility/resistance to pests     noticed to date. -   Heat tolerance: No heat tolerance. -   Hardiness: Not hardy. -   Flowering: In general, the time from planting to first flowering     takes eight weeks. -   Lastingness: About two weeks on the plant. -   Fragrance: None. 

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of calla lily plant named ‘Alice Springs’ as herein described and illustrated. 